The Grand Master’s Message: Lodge Meeting Activities
Lodge meeting activities, sometimes referred to as a “program,” are an important part of every Lodge meeting. This is an area where Lodges have significant flexibility and an opportunity to emphasize their personality. Activities can occur before or after the Tyled meeting or during the meeting while the Lodge is at Refreshment.
Activities should be planned well in advance, which allows attendees to add them to their calendars and results in increased attendance. It is best if the Worshipful Master plans the activities for his year before he is installed, but it is never too late to start.
Determining your audience is the first step in planning, as the content of the activities will vary based on who will be attending. We must consider including our ladies when planning activities. A Lodge should always provide a speaker or activity for the ladies; they should never be left to entertain themselves or simply wait. It is preferable to announce the meeting as “Masons only” and let the ladies stay home rather than have them wait outside the Lodge room during our meeting with nothing to do.
Planning continues with the selection of events. Many Lodges have a set of traditional activities which they repeat each year. Consider creating a signature event that will occur every year and draw visitors from other Lodges. Lodges aspiring to earn the Grand Master’s Achievement Award will wish to plan a Public Education or service event to meet the requirements.
There are resources available to help you plan your activities. Advice can be found in the Etiquette Book, Officer’s Handbook, and Standard Manual. A great place to start is with the Lodge Program Planning document, which is available for download from Grand View, located under Resources in the Master Masons section.
I hope you and your Lodge are able to enjoy some fun and entertaining Masonic activities this year!
Volume XL No. 7, March 2023
The Code
Greetings all, As Most Worshipful Grand Master Mark discussed last month, our search for Light in Masonry is often complicated by having a myriad of sources. One of the most relevant tools for Enlightenment is actually our Oregon Masonic Code. We will often be caught in a conversation with our Brothers trying to figure out what we should do in Lodge or wondering what a certain officer’s duties are.
The most important part of my offering this article is to express the importance of reading “The Code.” It will tell you your duty or what power you have or do not have as an officer. It will also tell you procedural paths to things that may seem difficult to accomplish. It also has a part for what to do if something occurs that has negative consequences.
One example of seeing things happen in the last few years is Lodges may wonder what part of the Code tells us what makes a quorum for a meeting. This document,
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1 Grand Master’s Message
1 The Code
2 OMCF Golf Tournament
3 Widows Sons at the Malheur Cave
3 Grand Master’s Itinerary
4 East-West Shrine Game
5 1723 Constitutions
6 News from Our Lodges
7 Secretary Seminar Recap
The Code,
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“The Code,” is quite well organized and has answers to questions such as this. I recommend familiarizing yourself with the Table of Contents in the front and the Index in the back, as these two parts list things that will jump out at you with the section you need to reference. For instance, when asking what makes a quorum, Section 207, “Quorum in a Lodge,” explains how many Masons from the Lodge need to be present and which offices they must fill. It is pretty simple most of the time if you read “The Code.”
Another good topic of explanation and Light is Section 19, which lists the committees: Appointive, Elective, Fixed, and Special of the Grand Lodge. If you are interested in some of these things or have skills that would benefit the Brotherhood and Craft, becoming familiar with these committees and their duties may allow you to help the entire jurisdiction by becoming a part of one of them when asked or considered. Sections 129 to approximately 149 explain the committees, their duty, their composition or makeup, and positionally who is on them.
One of the most important things one can do to prepare or enhance your ability to become an officer in a Lodge is to familiarize yourself with this document and, of course, Part Three, which pertains specifically to the Lodges. This Part Three has Sections 217-223 that explain the duties of the Lodge Officers. There is even a part of one section that tells you, as a Lodge, what the qualifications of Petitioners should be. This list is comprehensive when you read it, Section 229.
As members of a Lodge, if you are not an officer, it is still important to read and consume the Code as it pertains to Grand Lodge, your local Lodge, and the duties of the officers you may or may not know about. So if you wonder why the Trustees are so stuck on getting you to read “The Code.” It will help guide you on your search for Light in Masonry. Each jurisdiction has some form, most of the time, of written documentation representative of the things we have in Oregon, such as “The Code,” some sort of a “Standard Manual” of instructions, an etiquette book, and often time others which may or may not include a ritual or cipher. I encourage you to familiarize yourself with this written documentation which will guide and support you in your Oregon Masonic journey. Remember, as you observe or wonder why Lodge Officers, Grand Lodge Officers, and committees are following instructions. Most likely, they are found in “The Code” or these other sources of Masonic Light mentioned above.
Lastly, as in most governed bodies, there is most likely a single source of interpretation of governing documents. In Oregon, the Grand Master is the only one who can interpret “The Code.”
Fraternally,
R.W.B. Marc L. Strong, Junior Grand WardenOMCF Golf Tournament
The Oregon Masonic Charitable Foundation (OMCF) is pleased to announce the annual charitable golf tournament has been accepted by the Oregon Professional Golf Association (OPGA) as a charitable tournament worthy of their participation.
This acceptance will bring some of the Northwest’s most recognized professionals to the tournament to share with the amateur players to bring public awareness of the OMCF and our goals.
The OPGA, represented by Dominic Marconi, will provide entry systems, entry fee collection, squatting, website hosting, social media promotion, on-site live scoring, course officials, and professional tournament awards.
Our host course, represented by Tony Collopy, Tournament Director for Stone Creek Golf Course, will provide their exquisite course, lunch, tents, play, banquet, golf carts, amateur contest results and assist in promoting the tournament.
The Pro-Am program format will allow the amateur teams to occasionally use the play of the professional in their scramble scoring, giving each foursome a fifth and professional player to draw from.
Please consider reserving Friday, July 21, 2023, to play in this exciting new format for the OMCF’s Pro-Am Tournament at Stone Creek Golf Course.
Contestants may enter teams of four, sign up for individual play, renew old acquaintances, or meet new friends.
As usual, there will be an auction following the banquet with a chance to win a great vacation or that special item just for you, all this to help a charity we, as Masons, hold so dear.
Look for our tournament flyer soon. Get your Lodge to sponsor a team and compete for the Lodge trophy.
Fraternally, W.B. Grant Sharp, Oregon Masonic Charitable Foundation President
Widows Sons Knock It Out of The Park!
The84th annual Malheur Cave Master Mason degree was truly one for the ages. The degree was conferred upon Brother Fellowcraft Johnny Mims, a member of Robert Burns Lodge No. 97, who is the first candidate provided by Robert Burns Lodge in recent memory.
Equally as important is who conferred Bro. Mims’ degree, which was this Grand Jurisdiction’s very own Widows Sons Motorcycle Association. The entire degree cast, with one exception, from the Sea Captain and King Solomon to the Grand Lodge instructions, were all made up by the members of the Widows Sons.
This conferral was one of the finest Master Mason degrees I have seen in my 41 years of being a Mason. The crowning jewel of the event was the lecture of the 3rd degree done by W.B. Ryan Buys of Corvallis Lodge No. 14. It was absolutely flawless and the best I have ever witnessed. Thank you, W.B. Ryan!
This year’s event was well attended as we had 100 Brothers from at least six Grand Jurisdictions: Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Arizona, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. The one Brother from Pennsylvania had heard about the event and just hopped in his car and drove halfway across the country to attend — amazing. We had 40 Brothers who were first-time visitors.
Our Grand Master, M.W.B. Mark Posler, and his Grand Lodge Officers were present along with visiting dignitaries that included M.W.B. Russ Smith, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Idaho, and his Grand Pursuivant, W.B. Eric Coryell.
M.W.B. Posler gave a short but inspiring talk before he and his Grand Lodge Officers closed Robert Burns Lodge in “due and ancient form.” Thank you!
Activities included horseshoe tossin’ at Fairly Honest Art’s horseshoe pits, a slideshow by the High Dessert Grotto about the restoration being done to
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Grand Master’s Tentative Itinerary
March 2023
1 — Rickreall No. 110, Official Visit & Past Masters Night; dinner, 6:30 p.m.; Lodge, 7:30 p.m. - Bib Overalls and Old Tie, L
2 — Belt No. 18, Kerby, Official Visit; dinner, 6:30 p.m.; Lodge, 7:30 p.m. - U, L
3 — Leadership Meeting, Grand Lodge Headquarters, Forest Grove, 1 p.m. - BC, L
4 — MESH/Trustee Meeting; Forest Grove, 8 a.m. - U, SU
6 — Creswell No. 112, Official Visit; dinner, 6:30 p.m.; Lodge, 7:30 p.m. - U, L
7 — Union No. 3, McMinnville, Official Visit; Corned Beef & Cabbage dinner, 6 p.m.; Lodge, 7:30 p.m. - U, L
8 — Columbia No. 114, Portland, Official Visit; dinner, 6 p.m.; Lodge, 7 p.m. - U, L
9-11 Amaranth Grand Court, Valley River Inn, Eugene - T, L
11 — Sunnyside No. 163,
April
U = Uniform; L = Ladies; T = Tuxedo; S = Suit; SU = Summer Uniform; BC = Business Casual
EVENTS ARE UPDATED FREQUENTLY.
Widows Sons Knock It Out of The Park,
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2023 East-West Shrine Game
Ihave some exciting news regarding the 2023 East-West Shrine All-Star Football Game.
First, for those who have attended the game in the past, we have moved the date. The game will now be held during the last full weekend in July. For 2023, the event will be on July 29.
restore the cave, and plenty of hospitality at various camping groups. A lot of good, old fellowship was had by all.
A very special thank you goes out to the Brothers who prepared the meals — from those who prepped the food to those who slapped it on our plates. It was good food. I would also like to thank the Brothers that helped break down the cook shack and dining area on Sunday morning. Also, a special thank you to those Brothers who helped tow some of our equipment back to Burns for us. Their help greatly reduced the number of 100-mile round trips to get all our equipment back to our Lodge. Thank you, my Brothers!
The 2023 Master Mason degree will be on the weekend of August 25-27. Registration will start Friday morning, down by the cook shack. I am happy to say the cost will remain the same: $100, which includes five meals.
Directions to the Cave are simple. Go east out of Burns on Highway 78. At milepost 52, turn left on the dirt road, go three miles following the signs, and you are there!
If you have any questions, please call or text the Worshipful Master of Burns Lodge, M.W.B. Art Bush, at (503) 997-2262 or visit the Lodge website at www.burnslodge97.com
See ya there!
Fraternally, M.W.B. Art Bush, P.G.M., Worshipful Master of Robert Burns Lodge No. 97
Secondly, the committee is currently looking for a volunteer to assist in the production of our game program. This person is responsible for collecting articles from the hospital, Potentates, and the game chairman, as well as designing the program with the player and cheerleader photos and sponsors. This position is vital, as we generate 90 percent of our fundraising from sponsorships in our program.
We are a unique organization made up of Shriners and non-Shriners alike, with a common goal of raising as much funds as possible for our Shrine Hospital in Portland. Over the last 70 years of our game, we have raised over $2 million in donations to the hospital. We are seeking volunteers who would like to assist us.
If you would like to get involved, contact Committee Chairman W.B. Zachary Steele by email at eastwestsecretary@gmail.com, and stay up to date on the event by visiting www.eastwestshrinefootball.com.
Fraternally, W.B. Zachary Steele, 2023-2024 Committee Chairman
1723 Constitutions
Ifanyone doubts that Freemasonry as it is practised today was derived from the Grand Lodge of England, let him compare the new Charges with those of an older date. He will find that the severance from any and all pre-existing connections was as fundamental and complete as was the severance of the American colonies from England after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Our national history begins with the Declaration. Indeed, the history of the United States is ‘merely the story of the working out of the principles set out in the Declaration’… Just so the history of Freemasonry begins with a declaration of principles. These are set forth in the New Constitutions promulgated by the Grand Lodge of England and form the basic law of the Fraternity throughout the world. Indeed, the story of Freemasonry is merely the working out of those principles. — Ossian Lang, History of Freemasonry in the State of New York (1922).
2023 marks the tercentenary of the publication in London of The Constitutions of the Freemasons – the ‘1723 Constitutions’ – whose Enlightenment principles provide the philosophical foundations of modern Freemasonry. Many Masonic histories have been concerned with ‘when’ and ‘what.’ Here we also examine ‘why’ – the context – and explore some of the consequences.
The 1723 Constitutions divides into three principal sections: a traditional (if affected) history of Freemasonry which places the Craft within a literary historical context; Charges to which all Freemasons are expected to adhere, unarguably the most significant component; and the General Regulations governing the administration of Grand Lodge and Masonic Lodges. Masonic songs celebrate the Master of the Lodge, his Wardens, Fellowcraft, and Entered Apprentices; and an Approbation lists the Grand Officers and Masters and Wardens of 20 Lodges. The book begins with a dedication to the 2nd Duke of Montagu, the first noble Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England, by Jean Theophilus Desaguliers, a former Grand Master.
The Constitutions is similar in structure to the Old Charges that governed medieval (and later) stonemasons’ Lodges. This was intentional. It positioned the 1723 Constitutions and the Grand Lodge of England as a continuation of that which preceded it, a technique that affords legitimacy in tradition-based societies. But the ideas promoted by the Grand Lodge of England were not mediaeval. They were new and materially different.
The book was based on Enlightenment foundations, values that lie at the core of modern Freemasonry in England and internationally. But the Constitutions and modern Freemasonry were not simply a product of the
Enlightenment. They impacted upon it, not least as a vector for the transmission of Enlightenment principles globally.
On the following pages we set out those principles, consider the people involved, and explore the context –the framework – within which their ideas were formed. And we discuss how the 1723 Constitutions evolved, not just in England, Ireland, and Scotland, but in Europe, America, and elsewhere across the globe. Before you begin you may wish to read a short summary: The Main Takeaway.
A century ago, Lionel Vibert of Quatuor Coronati Lodge, the premier Lodge of Masonic research, marked the then bicentennial with a paper in AQC 36: ‘Anderson’s Constitutions of 1723’. Subsequent research has unearthed new evidence and reached other conclusions, but one comment should be reemphasised: that the 1723 Constitutions is among Freemasonry’s most important documents, and not only in England.
In 1730, it was taken by the Grand Lodge of Ireland as the model for the Irish Constitutions. It was reprinted verbatim by Benjamin Franklin in 1734 for use in America. It was translated and circulated widely throughout Europe in the 1730s and 1740s. And in the 1750s, via the Irish Constitutions, it provided the basis for Ahiman Rezon, the Constitutions of the Antients Grand Lodge, and, after Independence, of America’s State Grand Lodges.
The 1723 Constitutions set a pattern for Freemasonry throughout the world. Understanding its context helps to explain the origins of modern Freemasonry and shed light on the relationship between Freemasonry and society today.
- by Ric Berman, PhD, FRHistS, PM, Quatuor Coronati Lodge No.2076, Editor & Compiler, www.1723constitutions.com. Copyright of Quatuor Coronati / QC Correspondence Circle Limited (QCCC).
James L. Morgan, P.G.M, Grand Secretary
